Adjustable mattress.



V. S. THIRLWALLs ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. so, 1 915.

Patented June T9, 191'?.

VERNON S. THIRLWALL, F ANCON, CANAL ZQNE, ASSIGNOR 9F ONE-HALF I0 EGERTON SHAW HUMBEB, OF PANAMA, CANAL ZONE.

ADJUSTABLE MATTRESS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1917.

Adjustable Mattresses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mattresses for beds and in particular to an adjustable mattress which may be fitted conveniently to beds of different sizes.

The primary purpose of the invention is to provide a mattress of this nature which is light and durable in construction, is sanitary and capable of being cleansed frequently, and which is simple in construction and composed of few parts whereby 'it is rendered inexpensive in cost of manufacture and easy to adjust.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable mattress consisting of an expansible frame and a covering of pliable sheet material or fabric therefor, means being provided to permit adjustment of the frame in accommodating the device to a bed of a given size without it being necessary to remove the fabric covering completely.

To these ends, the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts fully set forth and described in the following specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying'drawings, in which:

Figure 1-is a top plan view of a mattress constructed in accordance with the invention, a portion of the fabric covering being broken away to expose more fully one of theangle sleeves;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view;

40 Fig. 4 is a plan view of a corner portion of the frame alone, partly in section, showing in detail the mechanism for locking the side bars of the frame in adjusted position, and,

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one end portion of one of the angle sleeves, showing the locking member in its inoperative position.

Referring to the drawing by numerals,

which 'designate like parts throughout the several ligures, it will be seen that the mattress consists primarily of an adjustable frame l and a detachable fabric covering 2 therefor. The frame includes side bars 3 5 and end bars 4, each of which latter is secured fixedly to one of the former at the meeting ends thereof to form an angular frame section. The free meeting ends of contiguous side and end bars of the said sections are slidably engaged within the corresponding arms of the hollow angle sleeves 5, which latter complete the frame and are thus arranged at diagonally opposite corners thereof. These angle sleeves are provided at their corners with depending anges 6 which form supporting legs for the frame, and angle brackets 7, having similar leg-forming flanges 8, are provided at the other corners of the frame to secure the meeting ends of the side and end bars of the respective frame sections iixedly together.

The free end portion of each frame bar is provided in its inner space with a series of recesses 9 whereby a rack is formed hav- 75 ing outwardly raking teeth 10. A lockin member is provided upon each arm of eac angle sleeve and comprises a spring tongue 11, which is secured at one end exteriorly to the inner wall of the said angle sleeve arm. and an inwardly projecting locking tooth 12 carried by the free end of the tongue but spaced `sliUhtly from the said tongue end. llhis tooth rakes oppositely with respect to the rack piece 10 and is 85 adapted to project through an opening 13 in the said sleeve wall for engagement with the rack piece. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) Each locking member will be deflected by the rack teeth of the corresponding frame bar during expansion of the frame so as to permit free adjustment of the frame parts, but will effectively prevent retrograde movement or contraction of the frame, normally. In order to contract the frame, in any direction, either lengthwise or transversely, the locking members involved mustfirst be withdrawn manually and held in inoperative position. In order that one person may conveniently adjust the frame to contract the same, means are provided for securing the locking members in inoperative position, otherwise it would be practically impossible for one person to hold locking members at diagonally opposite corners of a large frame in inoperative position and at the same time perform the operation of adjusting the frame parts. .For this purpose, a supporting ring 14 1s pivotally connected to the free end of the locking member and 110 is adapted to be turned inwardly into operative position for engagement within notches l5 provided in the adjacent wall of the corresponding angle sleeve arm, whereby the locking member will be propped in inoperative position. When the ring is sub sequently disengaged with the said notches and is swung outwardly into its inoperative position. the locking member will automatically assume its operative position.

Owing to the fact that the tooth l2 of each locking member is spaced to a slight extent from the end of the spring tongue, and also to the fact that the tooth is narrower than the tongue, the surrounding edge portions of the tongue will engage the adjacent sleeve arm wall marginally with respect to the opening i3 so as to edectively seal the opening when the locking member is in its operative position. Owing to this feature of the construction and also to the fact that the hollow angle sleeves are closed at the ends thereof by the frame bars which tit within the same, the said sleeves will not adord. retreats for bed bugs or other insects.

rthe fabric covering for the mattress trame is in the 1form of a substantially rectangular sheet adapted to cover the top of the :trame and having end flaps 16 and Side *ir-laps l?" which are adapted to extend around the frame 1oars under the Same, where they overlap and are laced together. rlhe end tlaps are laced by means of the cords l which through eyelets 19 in the said. .l`he side flaps l? are laced manner by the cords 2@ which are threaded through eyelets 2i. Any tendency ot the frame contract is resisted by the locking members, so the covering 2 may placed under any desired tension by tightening the lacing.

lvl/nen it is desired to expand the mattress lengthwise, for instance, to accommodate the same to a bed` of a given size, it is merely necessary to loosen the lacing of the end jdaps 1G to a suiicient extent. whereupon the frame may be extended in this direction by pulling in opposite directions upon the ends thereof, The locking members involved in this operation will permit expansion ot the same until the desired limit has been reached, whereupon contraction will be prevented thereby. After this has been done, the end ilaps may be laced tightly to re-supply the necessary longitudinal tension to the body portion oi. the cover 2. The mattress may be widened in a like manner without disturbing the lacing of the end flaps, by loosening the side naps and expanding the frame laterally in the obvious manner. To contract the mattress in either direction, the necessary locking members are moved into inoperative position and secured therein by the supporting rings provided for that purpose, whereupon the trame may be col lapsed in the desired direction to the degree necessary. Then, the side or end daps, s the case may be, are laced tight-ly to take up the slack in the cover sheet.

lt is to be noted that the fabric covering for the mattress frame may be removed readily for the purpose of renewing, repairing.v or cleansing the saine. The provision of the supporting legs 6 and 8 elevates the frame bars above the supporting surfaces ot the hed, so as to prevent wear upon the flaps of the covering where they pass under the said bars. A further notable feature, of the construction is the proximity of the loclring members to the corners of the same, whereby they may be reached conveniently through the spaces between the edges of the flaps of the covering without its being necessary to unfasten or adjust the covering during manipulation of the locking members to etiect contraction of the frame. llt is to be understood, however, that, instead of pro riding angle sleeves as shown havin@n loching members associated therewith, the ad justing joints of the same may be otherwise situated, but the present arrangement appears to be the most practical..

Having thus described the invention, it is desired to claim and to secure ty Let ters Patent is:

it A mattress comprising a frame nclud ing side bars and end bars united to form relatively' adjustable sections, capable or lengthwise and sidevvise expansion and conn traction, a flexible covering for the frame having opposed side endend deps project inwardly beneath the co am n iframe bars, and independent addnstable means tor securing the corresponding' together.

2. A mattress comprising a frame includnl ing side bars and end bars united to torio relatively adjustable sections, means :tor permitting extension of said sections but adaptu ed to prevent retrograde movement thereof, a llerible covering for the iframe having opposed side and end flaps adapted to project inwardly beneath the corresponding rra/ine bars, and independent adjustable means or securing the corresponding deps together..

3. A. mattress comprising a frame including side bars and end bars united to relatively adjustable sections, means pern mitting extension of said sections but adapted normally to prevent retrograde movement thereof, a lexible covering for the trame having opposed side and end daps adapted to project inwardly beneath the corresponding 'rame bars, independent adf justable means for securing the corresponding llaps together, and means by which the nist-named means may be rendered inoper ative to permit contraction of the trame.

el. A mattress comprising a trame including side bars and end bars tinted to form relatively adjustable sections, a tubular sleeve secured iixedly to the end of one frame bar at each jomt for the slldable reception of the adjacent bar end, rack teeth. provided upon the said bar end, a springpreed pawl provided upon the sleeve for engagement wlth the said teeth to permit expansion of the same alone normally, a supporting device. carried by the pawl and adapted to be interposed Vbetween the latter and the sleeve to secure the pawl in inoperative position out of engagement with the rack teeth and to permit contraction of the frame, said supporting device being accessible from the interior of the frame, and an adjustable covering of flexible material for the frame which extends around the outer sides of the frame bars.

5. A mattress comprising a frame including side bars and end bars, each side bar being united tixedly with an adjacent end bar te form an angular frame section include ing one corner of the frame, tubular angle sleeves forming the other: diagonally opposite corners of the frame and adapted to slidably receive the adjacent bar ends in their corresponding arms, releasable means for normally permitting extension adjustment of each bar end in the corresponding sleeve arm, a exible covering for theframe having side and vend Haps extending inwardly beneath the side and end bars of the frame, and independent means for securing Aco-acting iiaps adjustably together.

In testimony whereof I have my name to this specification in the presence of 35 two subscribing witnesses. v

VERNON S. THIRLWALL.

Witnesses Tm. MeGpmrs, Ammin Brcmnnson. 

